Table of Contents for
Packet Tracer Network Simulator

Version ebook / Retour

Cover image for bash Cookbook, 2nd Edition Packet Tracer Network Simulator by Jesin A Published by Packt Publishing, 2014
  1. Cover
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Packet Tracer Network Simulator
  4. Packet Tracer Network Simulator
  5. Credits
  6. About the Author
  7. About the Reviewers
  8. www.PacktPub.com
  9. Preface
  10. Who this book is for
  11. Conventions
  12. Reader feedback
  13. Customer support
  14. 1. Getting Started with Packet Tracer
  15. Installing Packet Tracer
  16. Interface overview
  17. Creating a simple topology
  18. Summary
  19. 2. Network Devices
  20. Customizing devices with modules
  21. Emulating WAN
  22. Accessing the CLI
  23. Summary
  24. 3. Generic IP End Devices
  25. Servers
  26. Other end devices
  27. Configuring end devices
  28. Summary
  29. 4. Creating a Network Topology
  30. Testing connectivity with PDUs
  31. Using the simulation mode
  32. Clustering a topology
  33. Summary
  34. 5. Navigating and Modifying the Physical Workspace
  35. Moving devices physically
  36. Managing cables and distances
  37. Customizing icons and backgrounds
  38. Summary
  39. 6. Configuring Routing with the CLI
  40. Dynamic routing protocols
  41. The Routing table
  42. Load sharing
  43. Summary
  44. 7. Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
  45. BGP versus dynamic routing protocols
  46. Configuring BGP in Packet Tracer
  47. Summary
  48. 8. IPv6 on Packet Tracer
  49. IPv6 static and dynamic routing
  50. Using both IPv4 and IPv6
  51. Summary
  52. 9. Setting Up a Wireless Network
  53. Wireless networks and physical workspaces
  54. Summary
  55. 10. Configuring VLANs and Trunks
  56. InterVLAN routing with routers and layer 3 switches
  57. Switch-to-switch trunk links
  58. Analyzing broadcasts in the simulation mode
  59. Summary
  60. 11. Creating Packet Tracer Assessments
  61. The initial network
  62. The answer network
  63. Testing the activity
  64. Summary
  65. Index

Chapter 4. Creating a Network Topology

So far, we have learned a lot about the devices available in Packet Tracer. In this chapter, we will start putting these devices to use. We'll learn what it takes to create a network topology, its connections, and link indications. Then we'll test the connectivity between the topologies and a PDU (Protocol Data Unit), both simple and complex. Once we are done with that, you'll no doubt be curious to see how data moves from one node to another. That will be taken care of by the simulation mode of Packet Tracer. Finally, we'll clean up our workspace a bit by using the clustering feature.

Connecting devices

Choosing the Connections icon from the device-type selection box lists several cables in the device-specific selection box. Packet Tracer provides the following cables that can be used to connect devices:

  • Console: This is a console cable that is used to view the network device's console from a PC/laptop. One end of the cable connects to the console port of a network device while the other one connects to the RS-232 port on a PC/laptop.
  • Copper straight-through: This is a standard Ethernet cable that is used to connect two devices that operate in different layers of the OSI model (such as hub to router and switch to PC). It can be used with Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet port types.
  • Copper cross-over: This Ethernet cable connects devices operating in the same OSI layer (such as hub to hub, PC to PC, PC to router, and PC to printer). This cable can also be used with Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet port types.
  • Fiber: This cable connects Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet ports of a fiber port.
  • Phone: This RJ11 cable connects the analog phone to a VoIP phone or a PC's modem to a cloud. It also connects the modem interface of routers.
  • Coaxial: The coaxial cable connects the cloud with a cable modem and a TV with the cloud.
  • Serial DCE and DTE: Serial cables connect routers together and connect routers to the cloud. The DCE (Data Circuit-terminating Equipment) end has a clock symbol on it. Clocking must be enabled on this end using the clock rate <300-4000000> command to bring the line protocol up. If Serial DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) is chosen, the first device connected with this cable will be the DTE end and next device will be the DCE end. For the Serial DCE cable, this is just the opposite.
  • Octal: This cable was introduced in PT Version 6. It has a high-density connector on one end and eight RJ45 plugs on the other.
  • Automatically choose connection type: If you are confused about the cable to use, choosing this option automatically connects two devices with the best cable. We say best cable because if you have two routers with serial and Fast Ethernet interfaces on both of them and want to connect both of their Fast Ethernet interfaces, choosing this option will connect only their serial interfaces together. Similarly, console ports cannot be connected using this option.

Link status

After connecting devices together, you'll find a light at each end of the cable; this indicates the state of the connection, as follows:

  • Bright green: This indicates that the physical link is up, but it doesn't indicate the status of the line protocol.
  • Blinking green: This indicates link activity.
  • Red: This indicates that the physical link is down. This can be caused by incorrect cables or by a port being administratively shut down.
  • Amber: This appears only on switches, and indicates that the port is running the STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) algorithm to detect layer 2 loops.

Let us demonstrate how to connect devices in a topology containing a PC, laptop, switch, and a router. We will be using the following topology for this demo:

Link status

After adding the devices shown in the previous topology, click on a connection type from the device-type selection box and choose a connection. Click on a device and a context menu will list all of the interfaces available for the device. Select the interface and repeat the same steps on the other device to create a link between the two.

Link status

If a router is connected to any device, the link status will be red because routers have their ports in "shutdown" status by default. If a device is connected to a switch, the link is initially amber in color, indicating that it is going through the states of STP.